Zimbabwe Cricket Bans "Fan" For Approaching Luke Jongwe With A Spot-fixing Proposal

A fan has been given a five-year suspension by Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) for their involvement in a spot-fixing attempt in August 2022. Fast bowler Luke Jongwe was approached by the suspect, who made the suggestion.

The event was promptly reported by Jongwe to the appropriate authorities, which prompted ZC to look into it. The investigation’s findings that the fan had attempted to rig the score led to the issuance of a five-year suspension.

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Zimbabwe Bans Edward Walter Mupangano For Approaching Luke Jongwe For Spot-fixing Proposal

“Edward Walter Mupangano, a 27-year-old cricket fan from Harare who in the past also had playing trials with a local club, received the sanction after he approached Luke Jongwe on 4 August 2022 and sought to introduce him to an Indian bookmaker who allegedly wanted the player to bowl in a pre-arranged manner during an international match in return for a payment amounting to US$7000,” ZC said in a statement.

“The facilitator himself would allegedly receive US$3000 if the planned corrupt activity was successful.”

The board said that Mupangano had admitted guilt of breaking the anti-corruption policy and had been barred for five years from participating in any ZC-sponsored events, activities, or places.

Following this occurrence, Zimbabwe Cricket demanded that the country’s laws “make fixing and any other sporting corruption a criminal offence.”

“It is our view that harsh sanctions, including custodial sentences, will go a long way in helping cricket to curb one of the biggest threats to its credibility,” Zimbabwe Cricket chair Tavengwa Mukuhlani said. “Criminalising match-fixing and spot-fixing will send a strong warning to offenders and would-be offenders that corruption has no place in cricket and those who engage in it should be jailed or put out of the game.”

ZC said it would “intensify its anti-corruption education drive within its structures and continue working with the ICC to ensure that cricket locally and globally is not tainted”.

“The integrity of ZC and the game itself is of paramount importance and, therefore, the need to maintain high levels of honesty and professionalism at all levels of the game cannot be overemphasised,” Zimbabwe Cricket managing director Givemore Makoni said.

“Let me take this opportunity to place on record our thanks to Luke Jongwe for reporting the approach – this is what is expected of all participants in cricket if we are to keep our game clean.”

Since making his debut in 2014, Jongwe, 28, has played for Zimbabwe in one Test, 37 ODIs, and 45 T20Is.

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